York still remembered the disaster a month ago. First came a violent vibration, then the earth and sky began to shake. At that moment, York had just arrived on the streets when the sweeping earthquake wave destroyed most of the town. Many buildings collapsed into heaps of rubble, and people screamed as they fled in all directions.

This was thought to be the end of the disaster, but who would have thought it was just the prelude? When York called out to the town citizens, urging them to take shelter in the open streets, the ground beneath them seemed to split apart, collapsing directly. Huge cracks surrounded the town, until the entire town was swallowed by the spreading rift.

When the roaring tremors stopped, and when York shook off the dust and stood up from the rubble, he could no longer see the clear sky, but only a gray expanse. A giant rock wall, like high walls, enveloped Gray Stone Town, resembling a cage, trapping them inside.

"What a terrifying disaster..."

York sighed softly, bowed his head, and closed his eyes in silent prayer. As the town’s only priest, for the past month since the disaster, besides assisting others, his most common act was to pray for both the deceased and the living, hoping to comfort others in this way.

"Father York."

Town citizens passed by, and everyone nodded to York, their eyes filled with respect.

York was a kind priest, well-respected in Gray Stone Town.

He was slender yet upright, standing around one meter eighty, which gave him a tall and dignified appearance. He was about fifty years old, with natural short hair and a tidy mustache. The wrinkles on his face seemed quite numerous, but his eyes were always bright and warm, always casting comforting smiles when he saw others.

As the town’s priest, York didn’t have flashy ecclesiastical attire, just a simple black vest, which was tailored very well, a white shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes. His attire was not the least bit ostentatious or dazzling, but it was very tasteful and dignified.

A small cross hung on the vest’s chest, and there were no unnecessary decorations on him, to avoid flaunting personal identity and status.

Everyone in the town knew York was a devout believer, leading an ascetic life, untouched by any worldly possessions.

"Father."

Another person approached, showing respect to York, to which York responded with a smile.

"Do you have time tonight?" The person did not immediately leave.

"Oh? What’s the matter, Gami."

York examined Gami. In Gray Stone Town, Gami was also a well-known figure, but unlike York, Gami belonged to the notorious kind.

Some said Gami was a soldier, while others said he was an outsider from the neighboring Oath City, Opus... Many stories circulated about his origins, but what people knew was that from his first day in Gray Stone Town, he had mingled in the dark environments.

"You seem much better." York complimented.

Normally, Gami always looked dirty, with greasy hair and a scraggly beard. His clothes were worn out and covered in mud and stains, sometimes even smeared with blood. Gami was a thug in the underworld casinos, but luckily, the disaster from a month ago completely destroyed them.

"Ha-ha."

Gami laughed briefly. He now looked much more presentable, with fitting clothes and a silver ring on his fingers.

Gami did not say much about York’s praise. At the same time, York also observed that Gami’s transformation seemed too impressive, not like his previous self at all.

Had Gami earned money through his labor and finally begun living a normal life?

York considered this unlikely, due to the disaster a month ago. Gray Stone Town had fallen into the spreading rift during this time, with people busy rescuing the injured, rebuilding the town, and re-establishing communication with the outside world. Everyone had lost a lot of their property, yet Gami seemed to have profited from this disaster.

"Father, I have something I wish to ask of you tonight."

Gami glanced at the busy townsfolk nearby, then leaned towards York, speaking in a volume only the two of them could hear.

"What is it?"

"I wish to confess to you."

Gami’s eyes darted around, glancing over York’s face and falling upon the small cross on his chest.

York, in his entirety, appeared in a plain gray-black hue, except for the cross symbolizing faith. It was made of pure gold, gleaming brightly, and it was York’s only possession.

"Confess?"

York was quite taken aback. He had advised Gami countless times, hoping he would turn onto the right path, yet Gami had never paid heed to him. Unexpectedly, he was seeking out guidance today of his own volition.

Perhaps the disaster changed him, York thought.

"Alright."

According to information from the outside world, the source of this disaster originated from the Great Rift within Oubos in Oath City, where a terrifying earthquake occurred. As the aftershocks spread outward, it brought the destruction of the Great Rift here, the continuously extending rift, like tentacles, swallowed all the buildings along the way until it reached the end, engulfing Gray Stone Town.

Perhaps Oubos in Oath City was too dazzling, not many people paid attention to the disaster in Gray Stone Town, but fortunately, timely rescue arrived, saving many people.

Now, the surroundings of the town are enveloped by towering rocks, blocking most of the light, shrouding the town in a layer of gloomy mist.

York walked on the streets of the small town, the streets now were quite narrow and winding, sometimes even making people feel as if they had reached a dead end.

The town’s residents fiercely discussed whether to stay or leave for a long time. Some believed they should leave the current Gray Stone Town and rebuild a new town above ground, while others were unwilling to leave their homes, even if they were now surrounded by high walls.

It’s said there is a similar town within the Great Rift, York remembered it was called Qiushang Town, though no one knows if it survived this disaster.

York didn’t care about these debates. He only cared if he could help others. He continued along the narrow street and soon reached the end of the small town.

A narrow gorge unfolded before York’s eyes, this gorge led directly to the Great Rift, a massive slope descending all the way until it vanished into turbid darkness.

Some said this was a great opportunity to explore the depths of the Great Rift, perhaps discovering something astonishing, while others rejected this suggestion, saying they heard strange sounds from deep within the gorge at night, as if some monster were wailing.

York often stood here, gazing into the darkness.

The town’s residents had many speculations about what lay beyond the gorge, but there was one thing, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning—when facing the darkness beyond the gorge, a pervasive fear welled up in everyone, preventing them from daring to step forward.

York felt the same.

Due to being situated within the gorge, darkness always approached Gray Stone Town early, casting shadows on the streets, where streetlights were scarce, making the town seem even darker and more profound at night. Thick fog often surrounded the town, disrupting people’s vision, permeating the air with a mysterious atmosphere.

At this moment, York had already returned to his small chapel, which had suffered damage during the earthquake, but luckily it hadn’t completely collapsed.

York lit a candle. Gray Stone Town had lost power during this period, everyone stayed indoors at night, and it was unknown why Gami sought him out during the evening.

"Get better soon," York murmured.

Gray Stone Town now carried a sense of oppression; people seldom talked, and their movements were rather brisk. The impact of the disaster was still ongoing, and the atmosphere of desolation and pressure often left people feeling somewhat dejected and lonely.

York sat in the slightly crooked confessional, waiting for Gami to arrive in the darkness.

After waiting for more than ten minutes, York heard someone push open the big door. His footsteps were very light, like a thief, he slipped into the confessional, and then he sensed York’s presence, his breathing in the darkness briefly unsteady.

York could sense it was Gami... indeed, who else would come?

"What do you wish to confess?"

The other party didn’t answer the question directly, instead asking, "Priest, according to the rules of confidentiality, you won’t tell anyone the content of my confession, right?"

"Yes."

"I... I’ve done something wrong."

"What wrong deed?"

"Something I can’t speak of."

"You can tell me."

The darkness remained silent for quite a while, as if organizing words or sorting feelings, before the voice sounded again after a long pause.

"I did something wrong and thus gained some wealth I shouldn’t have."

The voice became painful.

"I didn’t hurt anyone, I just... I saw those bodies lying in the rubble, and I thought since they’re already dead, they wouldn’t need their belongings, right?"

York could already imagine what had happened; before he could say anything, the voice continued.

"As a Priest, for the sake of your faith, you will keep it confidential, won’t you?"

Before the words were finished, York heard a sudden burst of footsteps. He paused for a moment, and when he chased out of the confessional, the figure that came to confess had already disappeared into the boundless night.

York knew that person was Gami.